A Holly Jolly Ever After: A Christmas Notch Novel

by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone

Overview

USA Today bestseller!

From the authors of A Merry Little Meet Cute comes an opposites attract steamy holiday rom-com cowritten by #1 New York Times bestseller Julie Murphy and USA Today bestseller Sierra Simone—about an actress and a perpetually single former boy-band member reunited as costars on a spicy holiday film.

Kallum Lieberman is the funny one™. As the arguably lesser of the three former members of the boy band INK, he enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame and then moved home where he opened a regional pizza chain called Slice, Slice, Baby! He’s living his best dad bod life, hooking up with bridesmaids at all his friends’ weddings. But after an old one-off sex tape is leaked and quickly goes viral, Kallum decides he’s ready to step into the spotlight again, starring in a sexy Santa biopic for the Hope Channel. 

Winnie Baker did everything right. She married her childhood sweetheart, avoided the downfalls of adolescent stardom, and transitioned into a stable adult acting career. Hell, she even waited until marriage to have sex. But after her perfect life falls apart, Winnie is ready to redefine herself—and what better way than a steamier-than-a-steaming-hot-mug-of-cider Christmas movie?

With decade old Hollywood history between them, Winnie and Kallum are both feeling hesitant about their new situation as costars…especially Winnie who can’t seem to fake on screen pleasure she’s never experienced in real life. She’s willing to do the pleasure research—for science and artistic authenticity, of course. And there’s no better research partner than her bridesmaid sex tape hall of fame costar, Kallum. But suddenly, Kallum’s teenage crush on Winnie is bubbling to the surface and Winnie might be catching feelings herself. 

They say opposites attract, but is this holly jolly ever after really ready for its close-up?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063222656
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/29/2024
Series:	A Christmas Notch , #2
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	373,311
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.97(d)

About the Author

Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband, who loves her, and her cats, who tolerate her. When Julie isn’t writing, she can be found watching movies so bad they're good, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, or planning her next great travel adventure. She is the author of the middle grade novels Dear Sweet Pea and Camp Sylvania as well as the young adult novels Ramona Blue, Side Effects May Vary, the Faith series, Pumpkin, Puddin’, and Dumplin’ (now a Netflix original film). You can visit Julie at imjuliemurphy.com.

It all started with a series of tropes: just one bed, forced proximity, and a dash of enemies to lovers, and now ten years later, Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are best friends and co-authors of the USA Today bestselling A Merry Little Meet Cute and A Holly Jolly Ever After. Sierra is the USA Today bestselling author of Priest and American Queen. When they’re not writing, Julie and Sierra enjoy forcing their families to go on vacation together and eating an array of pies while watching delightfully bad movies.

Editorial Reviews

Murphy and Simone present another superbly written, splendidly witty holiday romance featuring another pair of expertly nuanced protagonists and a plot that flawlessly balances sizzling sensual heat and sweet romantic affection while joyfully celebrating body positivity.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Well-developed protagonists with immediate chemistry and witty dialogue balance the emotional story as characters process big life changes and family trauma. Skillful, sympathetic writing weaves the conflict seamlessly into the storyline, creating a novel that will make readers laugh, cry, and cheer. This sexy, joyful romantic comedy from Murphy and Simone (A Merry Little Meet Cute) is a delightful read.”  — Library Journal (starred review)

“Jewish ex-rocker Kallum and former Christian movie good girl Winnie ... both hope to revive their careers by filming a Hope After Dark (think Hallmark Christmas Channel meets Skinimax) biopic of young Santa in the town of Christmas notch. If that description sounds like a lot going on, well, there is, and that’s part of the fun of this chaotic Christmas stocking of tropes...[with] plenty of laughs.” — Oprah Daily

"The audacity of this magical author duo to sneak in and steal Christmas in the sexiest way possible. A Merry Little Meet Cute is the charming holiday romp you absolutely need in your life!" — #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey

“A holiday rom-com full of quirky and fun characters, witty dialogue, and over-the-top Christmas cheer. An engaging, unputdownable holiday romance that will resonate with readers.” — Library Journal (starred review) for A Merry Little Meet Cute

“The holiday romcom of my dreams! Sexy, progressive, hilarious, and full of good cheer. I know what I’m gifting to all my romance-loving friends this year.” — New York Times bestselling author Helen Hoang on A Merry Little Meet Cute

“With plenty of cheeky charm and a cast of superbly nuanced characters, this brilliantly executed rom-com both cleverly skewers and unabashedly celebrates the appeal of squeaky-clean holiday romances, while also championing body positivity in life and love." — Booklist (starred review) for A Merry Little Meet Cute

“Murphy and Simone’s holiday romance is laugh-out-loud funny and so deliciously hot that readers will be glad it’s made for chilly weather. A sexy holiday romp that's the perfect combination of naughty and nice.” — Kirkus Reviews on A Merry Little Meet Cute

"Witty and entertaining from first page to last, A Merry Little Meet Cute will delight readers looking for a fresh, funny, fat- and sex-positive romcom. Bee and Nolan, both immensely likeable characters, anchor the sweetly raunchy story, but Murphy and Simone have also created memorable families and communities surrounding the two leads. This book is a joy to read, and readers will be clamoring for more stories set in the same world." — Olivia Dade, national bestselling author of Ship Wrecked

“Murphy and Simone are a dream team, delivering a deliciously spicy romance perfect for any season.”  — Zoraida Córdova, Nationally Bestselling author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

"A Merry Little Meet Cute is a diamond-tier rom-com filled with laugh-out-loud hilarity, and sizzling spice. Two talented queens have created a masterpiece that readers will be laughing about for years to come. This is what a holiday romance should be!"  — Nisha Sharma author of Dating Dr. Dil

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2023

Kallum Lieberman is the least famous former member of boy band INK. When an old sex tape is leaked and goes viral, the publicity gets him cast in a movie as a young, naughty Santa. Costar Winnie Baker had a more cloistered life, as a child star whose career was built on conservative Christian principles. She was sheltered and strictly controlled by her parents and, eventually, her husband. Now that image has been shattered by her divorce and an incident at a music festival, but her new reputation earns her a role in the steamy holiday film. But how can she act pleasured when she's never experienced pleasure? After confiding in Kallum, he agrees to help her with "research" for her character, but he can also envision a future beyond their behind-the-scenes sexcapades. Well-developed protagonists with immediate chemistry and witty dialogue balance the emotional story as characters process big life changes and family trauma. Skillful, sympathetic writing weaves the conflict seamlessly into the storyline, creating a novel that will make readers laugh, cry, and cheer. VERDICT This sexy, joyful romantic comedy from Murphy and Simone (A Merry Little Meet Cute) is a delightful read.—Heather Miller Cover

Library Journal